They swapped the road for the air.
The players of the Argentina football team, victorious World Cup finalists in Qatar, began a mid-afternoon helicopter flight over Buenos Aires on Tuesday, abandoning a victory parade by bus that had become " impossible” due to “the explosion of popular joy”, announced the presidency.
More than 4 million people, according to a source from the municipality, had massed on the course of the team, between the complex of the Argentine Federation (AFA) 32 km from the capital, and the heart of the city.
"The world champions are flying over the entire planned route in helicopters, since it has become impossible to continue by road," presidential spokeswoman Gabriela Cerruti said in a tweet.
“Let us continue to celebrate in peace, and show them our love and admiration.”
Los Campeones del Mundo están sobrevolando todo el recorrido en helicopter porque se hizo imposible seguir por tierra ante la explosión de alegría popular.
Sigamos celebrando en paz y mostrándoles nuestro amor y admiración!
— Gabriela Cerruti (@gabicerru) December 20, 2022
A few minutes earlier, the president of the AFA Chiqui Tapia had announced that the security authorities “won't let us get to the end to greet all the people who were waiting at the Obelisk”.
“A thousand apologies on behalf of all champion players,” he added in a tweet.
A supporter tries to jump on the bus
Leaving at 11:45 a.m. (3:45 p.m. in Paris) from the AFA headquarters, the bus of the now Argentinian “tri-campeones” was to reach the Obelisk, the nerve center of the celebrations.
But he had, three hours later, traveled only about ten kilometers, slowed down along the way by tens of thousands of supporters wearing sky and white jerseys.
Read alsoArgentina world champion: "In Buenos Aires, we are witnessing a total communion of the people"
Argentinian television footage showed, at one point along the route, a fan attempting to jump onto the players' bus as it passed just under a road bridge, but missing his reception, and ending his fall in the compact crowd following the bus on foot.
If he erró al micro no se murió, es un milagro.
Que necesidad de hacer semejante pelotudez.
pic.twitter.com/SVJjmC84Ac
— Luciano Garcia (@garcialuciano27) December 20, 2022
During the celebrations, several supporters insulted the Blues striker.
A video of a coffin on fire with a photo of the Frenchman even circulates on social networks.
As for the world champion players, some even celebrated with a Kylian Mbappé doll in their hands...
